Toggle action engine mechanism



Jan. 23, 1951 o. LINDLAND 2,539,258

TOGGLE ACTION ENGINE MECHANISM Filed Dec. l2, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 23, 1951 o, LINDLAND 2,539,258

ToGGLE ACTION ENGINE MECHANISN.

Filed Dec. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV EN TOR.

ATTO R N EYS Jan. 23, 1951 o. LINDLAND 2,539,258

ToGGLE ACTION ENGINE MECHANISN.

Filed Dec. 12, 1949 s sheets-sheet s INVHNTOR.

ATTD R N EYE Jan. 23, 1951 o. LINDLAND 2,539,258

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ATTE RN EYS Jan. 23, 1951 o. LINDLAND 2,539,258

TOGGLE ACTION ENGINE MECHANISM Filed Dec, l2. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

ATTCI RNEYS Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOGGLE ACTION ENGINE MECHANISM Ole Lindland, North- Palo AltoyCalif.

, .Application December 12, 1949, Serial No.' 132,460

(Cl. i4-+40) lv Claims. l

This invention relates to internal combustion enginesparticularly the type used for motors' of motor vehicles, and in particular the invention relates to connections vbetween pistons of internal combustion engines and a crank shaft of the engine in `Vwhich the piston through spreading arms-drives pivotally mounted levers outwardly and the levers impart `rotary motion to the crank shaft through connecting rodsl extended from .offset sections of the crank shaft. j' Thegpurpose of this invention is to increase the power and'jeiliciency of Vinternal combustion enginesby multiplying the leverage, through a toggle action, betweenthe pistons and crank-shaft.

In the usual type of internal combustion en- .fgines the piston rod directly connects the wrist lpin of the piston to an offset portion of a crank `shaft and in the power stroke the power ot the .piston is applied to the crank shaft from a point `slightly over the center to a point approaching the center on the opposite sideA of the shaft'and the maximum leverage isrthe radius of the offset portion of the crank shaft. It is diiicult to increase this leverage in the usual type of engine design. With this thoughtV in mind this invention contemplates a plurality of levers providing ytheconnecting `means between a piston and a crank shaft in ywhich the leverage is multiplied and in which the power is applied to the crank shaft in both sides of the center thereof so that the reaction force is reduced to a minimum.

The ohectof'this. invention is, therefore. to arrange the connecting elements between a piston and a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine whereby the power stroke isl multiplied and the force, instead of beingl applied to one VVside of the crank shaft only, is applied to both sides of the crank shaft from the same piston.

vAnother ohiect of the invention is to-provide 'power multiplying linkage between the -pistonand crank shaft of an internal combustion engine without materially increasing the sizeof thev eneine.

Another objecty of the invention is to4 provide means for increasing the power stroke of internal combustion engines and Yfor applying the'power on'bot-h sides of the crank shaft' without changing I the distance betweenthe cylinder and the center of the crank shaft;

4 thereof that increases thev power andapplies the power "to bothv sdeso the crankshaftywhich is vcrank shaft by connecting rods.

-Other features land advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the-drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a ltypicalv cross section through an internal combustion engine showing a cylinder block positioned on a crank case with the improved connecting elements between a piston in the cylinder block and a crank shaft extended through the crank case.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating thepositions of the parts with the piston at theend` of the power stroke.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the positionsv of the parts with the piston in the intermediate portion of the power stroke.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the engine shown in Figure lV-beingA taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a portion of the crank shaft of the engine.

Figure 6 isa sectional plan showing a portion of the engine with parts thereof taken substantially on the center of the crank shaft and with part taken from a plane corresponding with` the upper end of the crank case.

Figure 7 is a detail showing a cross section through one end ofthe crank case and illustrating the position of the main bearing of the crank shaft. v

Figure 8 is adetail illustrating amodincation wherein the piston rod is integral with the piston.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the piston shown in Figure 8 being taken on line 9-91of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view similar to that shown in Figure l1 illustrating a modification wherein the piston rod isV connected to the guide` levers by arms with bearing pins formed on the ends` of the arms.

Figure 11/is a sectional plan taken on line H-ll of Figure l0 showing the modification illustrated infFigure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail showing avertical secytionthrough oneof the `pistons taken lon line y AI8 pulls on the upper side.

Figure 13 is a detail showing one of the connecting arms with a yoke on the piston end.

Figure 14 is a similar view showing a connecting arm with a straight end.

Figure 15 is a detail illustrating a section of a crank shaft for one of the cylinders.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved engine of this invention includes a piston I8 in a cylinder II, arms I2 and I3 pivotally connected to a piston rod I4, levers I and I8, connecting rods I1 and IB and a crank shaft I9,

The crank shaft I9 is journaled in suitable bearings 2G, with bearing caps 2l in a crank case 22 and a cylinder block 23 in which cylinders Ii are provided is mounted on the upper part of the crank case through a horizontally disposed flange 24 with bolts 25. The cylinder block is provided with a head 25 and suitable valves 21 and spark plugs 28 are provided therein.

In the design shown in Figure 1 the piston I8 is connected to the piston rod i4 by a wrist pin 29 and the piston rod is pivotally connected to the arms I2 and I3 through a pin 38.

The levers I5 and l5 are pivotally mounted in the crank case 22 by pins 3i and 32, respectively and yokes 33 and 34 extend over projections 35 and 3S, respectively on the levers I5 and IB providing means whereby the arms are pivotally connected to the levers by pins 31 and 38, respectively.

The levers I5 and IB are also straddled by yokes 39 and 40 on the ends of the connecting rods I1 .and I8, respectively and the connecting rods are connected to the levers by pins 4I and 42 that extend through the yokes and levers. The connecting rod i1 is provided with a bearing cap 43 and the connecting rod I9 is provided with a similar bearing cap 44 thereby providing the .f

usual type of connection between connecting rods of pistons of internal combustion engines with crank shafts.

The levers I5 and I6 are provided with extended ends 45 and 46, respectively that extend into tracks 41 and 48 in the crank case section 49 thereby providing guide means for the levers.

In the design illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 a piston 58 in a cylinder 5i is provided with a piston rod 52 similar to the piston rod i4 and, as illustrated in Figure 8 the piston rod 52 is integral with the piston and the lower end of the rod is provided with an opening 53 to receive the pin .38 which, as illustrated in Figure 4, connects the piston rod to the arms l2 and I3 with one arm on each side of the red. In the design shown in Figures 8 and 9 the piston is provided with webs 54 and 55 that support the piston rod.

With the parts arranged in this manner and assuming that the explosion occurs at the end of the upward stroke of the piston, pressure on the upper end of the piston i8 moves the piston downwardly with the arms I2 and I3 spreading and forcing the levers I5 and I5 outwardly and, with the crank shaft turning in a clockwise direction the connecting rod II pulls on the lower side of the crank shaft while the connecting rod By this means the force of the explosion or power stroke is applied v.evenly to both sides of the crank shaft.

1n the design illustrated in Figures l0 to 15, inclusive a piston 53 having a piston rod formed of spaced bars 51 and 58 is connected to guide levers 58 and 58 by arms SI and 32, respectively and the levers are pivotally mounted in the crank case by pins 63 and 64 in projections 85 and 66, respectively of the crank case.

The lever 59 is connected to a crank shaft 61 by a connecting rod 88 with the connecting rod journaled on an offset section 59 of the crank shaft and secured thereto by a bearing cap 10. The outer end of the connecting rod 58 is formed with a yoke 1I through which the connecting rod is pivotally connected to the lever 59 through a pin 12.

The lever S3 is connected to an offset section 13 of the crank shaft by a connecting rod 14 with the inner end of the connecting rod journaled on the section 13 of the crank shaft and .the arms 6I and 32 are pivotally mounted on a pin 88 in the lower end 'of the bar. The upper end of the arm @I is provided with a yoke 8I and the pin 88 extends through an opening 82 therein, and the arm 82 is provided with an opening 83 through which the pin 89 extends, with the end in which the opening is positioned mounted between the arms of the yoke 8| as shown in Figure 12.

'A bearing pin 84 is provided on the lower end of the arm 6l and this pin is secured in a bearing recess 85 in the arm 59 with a cap 86 securing the bearing pin in the recess, the cap being bolted to the lever 59 by bolts 81. The outer end of the bearing pin 84 is provided with a collar 88. The lower end of the arm 62 is provided with a bearing pin 89 that is pivotally mounted in a recess 90 in the lever 38, and the pin is secured in the recess by a bearing c-ap 9! which is held in position by bolts 92. The outer end of the bearing pin 89 is provided with a collar 93.

With the parts arranged in this manner the length of the crank shaft and accordingly, the length of the engine is reduced, the connecting arms being positioned substantially in a common plane.

With the pistons operating alternately or consecutively the power stroke of one piston is transmitted to another piston for actuating the piston in the compression stroke and continuous operation of the engine is obtained.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms extended froin and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons. means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers, and connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers and also pivotally connected to oiset sections of the crank shaft.

2. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinderapiston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms extended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers, and connecting rods pivot/ally connected to the levers and also pivotally connected to offset sections of the crank shaft, With one connecting rod connected to an oiTset section on one side of the center of the crank shaft and the other to an offset section on the opposite side of the center.

3. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms eX- tended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers at points intermediate of the length thereof, and connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers and also pivotally connected to offset sections of the crank shaft.

4. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms extended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers at points intermediate of the length thereof, and connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers at points between the points where the arms are connected to the levers and the outer ends of the levers and also pivotally connected to offset sections of the crank shaft.

5. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending fr-om said pistons, a pair of arms extended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers at points intermediate of the length thereof, and

connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers at points between the points where the arms are connected to the levers and the outer ends of the levers and also pivotally connected to oiTset sections of the crank shaft, said levers having extended ends and said crank case having tracks therein in which the extended ends of the levers slide providing guide means for the levers.

6. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having oiset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms extended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers at points intermediate of the length thereof, and connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers at points between the points where the arms are connected to the levers and the outer ends of the levers and also pivotally connected to offset sections of the crank shaft, said crank case having guide means therein positioned for sliding engagement with the ends of the levers.

7. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with cylinders therein and a crank case with a crank shaft having offset sections therein, pistons in said cylinders, piston rods depending from said pistons, a pair of arms extended from and pivotally connected to each of the said piston rods, vertically disposed levers pivotally mounted at the upper ends thereof in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, levers pivotally mounted in the crank case on opposite sides of the pistons, means pivotally connecting the arms to the levers at points intermediate of the length thereof, and connecting rods pivotally connected to the levers at points between the points where the arms are connected to the levers and the outer ends of the levers and also pivotally connected to offset sections of the crank shaft, said crank case having guide means therein positioned for sliding engagement with the ends of the levers.

OLE LINDLAND.

No references cited, 

